A Well-Traveled Luger 

The gun that outlived the entire Soviet Union

My grandfather who served in the first Cavalry in Vietnam picked up a Luger from a Vietcong soldier that could be traced back to a german officer from WW2.

Wow this gun lived in every kind of society. imperial, fascit ,socialist and Capitalist.

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe-"

“Okay, now it definitely belongs in a museum.” - Dr. Henry Jones, Jr., 1990

it's amazing how much you can tell about a gun just from a few markings

It's so incredible how guns become their own stories, well outliving the original creators and owners.

If only if it could talk it would be one heck of a story

Momma always used to say, you can tell a lot about a person by their Luger

I also like well traveled guns like that. The gun I have that is closest to that is my Israeli Mauser that started life in World War I as a GEW 98, converted to a K98K before World War II, and ended up in Israel between the World War II and their statehood. Later converted to 7.62x51 in the late 50s, and surplused in the 1970s.

It is in really good condition for an one hundred years pistol.

What’s equally impressive is the collector who discovered and deciphered the provenance of the pistol. Just as easily that the pistol came into the possession of an imbecile and mistreated the historical piece. Well done.

My grandpa carried a P08 when he became a police officer. When Hitler came to power, my grandpa automatically became a member of the Nazi party since he worked in public service. His P08 accompanied him to Russia, the Crimean peninsula, Budapest back up to Travemünde where he and his comrades who survived that wild flight from the Russians surrendered to British troops. After "denazification" which simply meant working the same job for less money, he was allowed to keep his P08 until he retired. He did in 1979, too soon and my father inherited his gun. Since my father was a doctor who never had any intention of firing this metal piece of history, he never joined a gun clob and therefore only had a license to own this gun as part of his heritage. Gun laws changed and government wanted him to add some sort of keylock to the gun and to surrender the key to the county officials. Gun smiths were busy due to the law change and not able to supply and install a keylock mechanism so that he decided to hand the gun in. The motherfuckers destroyd that gun... It was made in the twenties, the stamps matched, it came with a leather !quick draw holster and an extra magazine. My grandpa kept his ammunition in a gas mask can... When I told my dad how much money he threw away and how such a piece of history could have been sold to someone who values such things, his jaws dropped... Worse, a few years ago, my dad asked my grandma to hand him my grandpa's medals so that he could keep them in his safe, she refused, several weeks later, they were stolen when a burglar broke into her appartment while she was on one of her extensive travels at the time... Still have his russian dictionary and his Wehrmacht's instructions on company tactics...

My goodness, the things that that pistol has seen in its life... Makes me wonder what my Krag has seen since 1899.

What if guns were like the movie Toy Story? When they're by themselves in the gun safe or warehouse they talk to each other and swap stories. Yet when we're using them they just perform.

"Hello, kamerade. Out for walk? Ah! You are a young one! Bright and strong! Forgive mein accent und sometimes broken English- I learn from old enemies, not always best. The world is much brighter nowadays... but my sights will work. So does my toggle. I have seen the great kings clash, nobility put aside for anger, but righteous anger it was. Blood and flesh spilled, onto the ground, by young lads. I fought for the Kaiserreich. My people needed me. My nation needed me. I have seen democracy rise up in place, chance for peace. People were not satisfied. They desired strength. They became tyrannical. The roar of machines built for struggle, for war, clashing, sprays of sparks. The men drew me again- a black spider on arms. I hated to look at it. But German they were, why should I argue with master of kin? Then silence. A black silence. A new tyrant to put me in his holster. The instruments of farmhands were law of land. I was used to control the people, to further revolution I never wanted. Then a fortress crumbled. I was free. Such color! Germany may lose pride, but they never lose heart. Mein Brandenburg Gate still standing. Mein Victory Column still strong. I am at peace. I fend off robbers after my master. I hunt the fauna of the forest. And now... what stories shall you tell me, kamerade?"

I've heard a lot of folks over the years parrot the phrase, "don't buy a gun for it's story" in reference to the value of collectible firearms. While that may be true for the pure market value of a gun, I've always found the most interesting and fulfilling part of collecting to be the history of the individual gun in question, its service and the story it tells. This is a beautiful example of that, thanks for the great work Ian!

A short film following this luger like the intro to Lord of War would be cool

"My Way" sequal, starring the german luger P08

Whatever the rest of the world and especially us Germans may think and say about the Americans and their guns: Nowhere in the world is gun-related history hold up as high as it is by you guys. Thank you for preserving it not only for you but all of us. And a special thank you to Ian of course.

If that gun could tell its own story ....

100 year old gun with the history to boot!

2:44 man, those Lugers were well ahead of their time. The design still does not aged or dull - but actually a bit futuristic. Also looks pretty, really mint - not more than 100 years old.

Damn I would pay to see either a film or comic book about the story of this gun

Video in 2120: "This gun lived through WW1, Weimar Republic, WW2, Soviet Union, and WW3"

I really love that stuff. I have a K98k which is stamped dot 1945. However, the hodge-podge of various parts(forward band with G98-style sling hook) with the occasional WaA-eagle and the fact, that the last digit of the date is stamped in deeper than the first three, might be a sign that the rifle was put together shortly after the war from various wartime production runs. I would have to check the info for the Brno production to clear that up. Away from speculation, back to the stamps: Besides the aforementioned WaA-stamps, there's a Bohemian Lion, probably a Czechoslovak proof mark on the side of the receiver. Then, there's a couple shield of David proof marks next to it and the rifle has been rebarreled for 7,62x51 NATO by the Israelis(Czechoslovakia shipped several thousand WWII small arms and even a couple of planes to Jewish forces in Palestine, shortly before the UN turned the land over for the foundation of the Israeli state). Finally, there's a stamp from the West German milsurp importer Orion(today Hege) and West German proof marks from the 70s. So it's pretty cool to have a rifle that is historically connected to three of my favorite countries: 1. Germany(my home

I have a VOPO with similar markings. So much history in one place. I also have an artillery Luger with Berlin Soviet sector markings.

beautiful pistol, wish I had one

God damn it! Lugers are so cool.

My father has a luger that is dated from 1918 and was taken from a dead German in Normandy, but is very clean.

That thing is a whole collection and remarkable piece of history by itself... Quite impressive.

Thank you for putting so much effort in to explaining the background of the weapons in your videos. I highly appreciate the educational and entertainment value.

History like this is why I love surplus firearms, this video is great! Thanks for finding this and showing something that I wouldn't even have heard of without Forgotten Weapons.

These guns still look so damn good. There's something about the angles, the circular disc shapes and that pull back that just make it so iconic. Hope to one day own a piece with a similar story to this one. Fascinating.

Probably my favorite video so far, thanks for showing this incredible piece of history

...what a provenance!!...and to look as sweet af after all its travels. Hats off to Herr Luger

Thanks for the interesting history story on that pistol. Born in Berlin and lived and survived the cold war in the city of West-Berlin. Did not know that the STASI had a weapons depot in Weissensee which is located in the east part of Berlin....Wolfgang

The P08 is such a wonderful work of art. Beautiful! thanks for showing it, keep up the great videos.

This piece is a time capsule. Well done content, Ian and thanks as always.

That’s amazing. I love it when these videos have so much interesting history in them.

Words do not do justice to how much I would love to just see this beautiful piece of history in person

Quite the history! Also a beautiful looking gun - especially in those lighting conditions. The trigger, safety lever, front sight etc gets a very nice copper/bronze shine to them :)

This is so interesting. I love this history of firearms and just history in general. Thanks so much for this!

Great video love the history derived from this one firearm. Hopefully you find more firearms with stories such as this.

Awesome! Thanks for showing us this neat little piece of history!

Such a beautiful pistol with such an incredible background I’m in awe

Someone please make a "warhorse" style movie following this gun

A wonderful piece of history. I'd love to get my hands on one.

Amazing the history that gun as seen. And it looks in such a good shape too.

I'm often asked what I see in firearms. Old ones in particular. This is an excellent example of that interest. Old world craftsmanship combined with a history that spans decades, if not centuries.

For a gun over 110 years old, this Luger has come a long way, and I’m glad we’re able to preserve guns like this.

What makes it even better, The P08, is still a good useable pistol. Even with only 8rds better then a M9......

Fascinating history on that gun.

I would love to have one like that in the collection. I could right out an entire history of it to stay with the pistol. It is in such good shape too.

It looks in mighty fine condition! What a great find!

This is why I love guns! The history in them is amazing...that and it's just really fun.

What a wonderful trip through time !

If i had to pick 3 videos of the thousands that represent the significance and interest of this channel, this would absolutely be one of 'em.

That Luger is one thing, the other well-traveled fellow with history on his back is another significance we envy.

Brilliant Ian!

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing!

Beautiful piece of history.

that is one of the coolest guns i have seen on your page.

I would love to have such a piece in my collection. Thanks for sharing.

Wow an awesome piece of history thank you for the video!!

True testament to engineering and quality. A century of service

Beautiful piece too 👌🏼

Great unique gun! This weapon did not forgotten.

I love the Luger. It is so elegant and streamlined looking

What an awesome piece of history.

Luger has been through a lot and still looks great.

Excellant vid, great story...more of these would be educational...cheers.

How amazing to handle something just dripping with history.

I would love a realistic fiction movie made around this gun's journey.

It would make a great movie just telling all the history that this gun has lived, all the people that handled it in some of the biggest events from last century

Amazing history lesson Ian! Thanks!

Always wondered what the 2/1001 markings on my Luger mags meant and now I know. Yet another reason to watch Ian!

That is one very well taken care for Luger. Like a high mileage one owner car that was loved.

christ all those years, all that milage, and it STILL looks immaculate

Really intriguing to imagine it's life. Had a Winchester 97 which was sold to a guy N Dakota in 1912 , bought it off his grandson in 1996 and put a couple of thousand shells through it .Sold it last year and I'm guessing it's still out there somewhere making a lot of noise.All the best Blighty.

*The Brave Little Luger* coming to a theater near you

Awesome bit of history.

Nice piece of history there....

This Luger has seen a lot of action

Those grips look pretty nice for a gun with that history.

Wiki Leaks: I've seen some heavy shit out there, man. Luger: Hold mein Bier.

Have a buddy who owns a 1914 dated Luger . What an amazing firearm to shoot, so natural. He also has a 1942 Walther P38. I prefer the P08 for its natural point ability and smooth trigger. Eventually I’ll scrape together enough to get one for my own collection.

amazing piece of history

A thing of beauty.

What a story, what a presentation.

Great video. I have a 1916 dwm frame with Mauser s/42 toggle and an SA stamp. I bet it could tell a story or two...

Thank you Gun Jesus

Iam Zied from Iraq .. Thank you forgotten weapons for the nice show of luger 👍

My 1917 Luger tingles when I hold it! Awesome bit of history.

That was so interesting! Thank you

My grandfather was in the South African Airforce during WW2 in North Africa. The air crew were issued Webley .38’s as sidearms that were apparently terrible and were always on the search for either 1911’s from the US troops or captured Lugers. A German aircraft was shot down and crashed next to their runway, some of the mechanics recovered a pair of Lugers from the wreckage and gave one to my grandfather. After the war he took it back to South Africa and eventually licensed it. Some time in the 90’s the police contacted him and said they had recovered his Luger and wanted to know why he had not reported it stolen. He told them impossible, he still has it in his safe. They did not believe him and sent someone around to verify it. Turns out they had found another Luger with the same serial number.

The gun looks like it was in storage the whole time throughout these historical events.

What a fine piece of history.

Great one Ian

Your videos are never a disappointment.